*James Buchanan* *15 th President of the United States

*background information* *Born: 1791 in Mercerburg, PA* *Died: 1868* *Age elected: 65* *Occupation: Lawyer* *Party: Democrat* *Vice president: John C. Breckinridge*

*Born: 1791 in Mercerburg, PA*

*Died: 1868*

*Age elected: 65*

*Occupation: Lawyer*

*Party: Democrat*

*Vice president: John C. Breckinridge*

*Chief Executive* *Hurt his party in the North by vetoing bills to finance agricultural colleges, improve navigation on the great lakes, and provide free homesteads to western farmers* *Endorsed admitting Kansas under Lecompton Constitution*

*Hurt his party in the North by vetoing bills to finance agricultural colleges, improve navigation on the great lakes, and provide free homesteads to western farmers*

*Endorsed admitting Kansas under Lecompton Constitution*

*Head of State* *Gave an uninspired inaugural address; said he’d only serve one term, uphold union, call for fiscal restraint, and advocated geographic expansion* *Inaugurated on March 4 th , 1857*

*Gave an uninspired inaugural address; said he’d only serve one term, uphold union, call for fiscal restraint, and advocated geographic expansion*

*Inaugurated on March 4 th , 1857*

*Economic Planner* *Promoted American expansion*… *Douglas declared in 1857 to Buchanan that his Lecompton Constitution made a mockery of popular sovereignty.*

*Promoted American expansion*…

*Douglas declared in 1857 to Buchanan that his Lecompton Constitution made a mockery of popular sovereignty.*

*Party Leader* *Buchanan selected men for his cabinet that he enjoyed being with, and most of his term agreed with his advisers on policy matters*

*Buchanan selected men for his cabinet that he enjoyed being with, and most of his term agreed with his advisers on policy matters*

*Commander in Chief* *Buchanan had skill being the Secretary of state and ambassador, but wasn’t able to construct a compromise to postpone war* *Supported war with Mexico*

*Buchanan had skill being the Secretary of state and ambassador, but wasn’t able to construct a compromise to postpone war*

*Supported war with Mexico*

*Chief Legislator* *Proposed Lecompton Constitution to Congress in February, 1858*

*Proposed Lecompton Constitution to Congress in February, 1858*

*Chief Diplomat* *Negotiated treaty with Great Britain that settled Oregon Territory dispute* *Received the first Japanese ambassadors to the United States in May, 1860*

*Negotiated treaty with Great Britain that settled Oregon Territory dispute*

*Received the first Japanese ambassadors to the United States in May, 1860*

*Conclusion* *James Buchanan carried out all 7 roles of being a president, even if he didn’t always carry them out very well.*

*James Buchanan carried out all 7 roles of being a president, even if he didn’t always carry them out very well.*